The Pledge of Allegiance Act amends the Revised Code to require the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in various school districts, including city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational schools. It mandates that each board of education adopt a policy for the recitation, ensuring participation is voluntary and does not violate constitutional rights. The bill prohibits any changes to the wording of the Pledge as defined by federal law and encourages schools to create lessons that promote citizenship related to the Pledge and the American flag. Additionally, it removes previous provisions that allowed boards of education to decide on the inclusion of the Pledge, establishing a uniform requirement across the state.

The bill also enhances governance and operational standards for community schools by requiring operators to account for all loans, ensuring independence of contracted attorneys and auditors, and mandating policies for student residency verification. It outlines the responsibilities of sponsors in monitoring compliance and performance of community schools, allowing for contract renewals under specific conditions, and establishing that contracts become void if a school fails to open or closes prematurely. The bill repeals existing sections related to community schools and introduces new compliance requirements for STEM and college-preparatory boarding schools, ensuring adherence to legal standards similar to those of traditional school districts.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.602, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24